Cyril Ramaphosa

Address to the Nation on Novel Coronavirus Outbreak

delivered 22 June 1990, New York

[AUTHENTICITY CERTIFIED: Text version below transcribed directly from audio.]

Fellow South Africans,

I am addressing you this evening on a matter of great national importance. The world is facing a medical emergency far graver than what we have experienced in over a century. The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus outbreak as a global pandemic.

There are now more than 162,000 people who have tested positive for the coronavirus across the globe. Given the scale and the speed at which the virus is spreading, it is now clear that no country is immune from the disease or will be spared its severe impact. Never before in the history of our democracy has our country been confronted with such a severe situation.

From the start of the outbreak in China earlier this year, the South African government has put in place measures to screen visitors entering the country, to contain its spread, and to treat those infected. As of now, South Africa has 61 confirmed cases of people infected with the virus, and this number is expected to rise in the coming days and weeks. Initially, it was people who had traveled out of the country, especially from Italy, who had positively tested for the virus.

It is concerning that we are now dealing with internal transmission of the virus. This situation calls for an extraordinary response; there can be no half measures. Cabinet held a special meeting earlier today, after which, due to the serious measures we are going to announce, I have taken time to consult with our premiers and a number of other stakeholders. We have decided to take urgent and drastic measures to manage the disease, protect the people of our country, and to reduce the impact of the virus on our society and on our economy.

We have now declared a national state of disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act. This will enable us to have an integrated and coordinated disaster management mechanism that will focus on preventing and reducing the outbreak of this virus. We will also be able to set up emergency, rapid and effective response systems to mitigate the severity of its impact.

Following an extensive analysis of the progression of the disease worldwide and in South Africa, Cabinet has decided on the following measures:

Firstly, to limit contact between persons who may be infected and South African citizens, we are imposing a travel ban on foreign nationals from high-risk countries such as Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, and China as from 18th March 2020. We have cancelled visas to visitors from those countries from today, and previously granted visas are hereby revoked.

South African citizens are advised to refrain from all forms of travel to or through the European Union, the United States, United Kingdom, and other identified high-risk countries such as China, Iran, and South Korea.

This is effective immediately.

Government will continue to regularly issue travel alerts referring to specific cities, countries or regions as the situation evolved -- evolves based on the risk level.

Any foreign national who has visited high-risk countries in the past 20 days will be denied a visa.

South African citizens returning from high-risk countries will be subjected to testing and self-isolation or quarantine on return to South Africa.

Travelers from medium-risk countries -- such as Portugal, Hong Kong, and Singapore -- will be required to undergo high intensity screening.

All travelers who have entered South Africa from high-risk countries since mid-February will be required to present themselves for testing.

We will strengthen surveillance, screening, and testing measures at OR Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International Airport, and King Shaka International Airport.

South Africa has 72 ports of entry into our country which are through the land, sea, and air ports. Of the 53 land ports, 35 will be shut down with effect from Monday the 16th March. Two of the 8 sea ports will be closed for passengers and crew changes.

Effective immediately, all non-essential travel for all spheres of government outside of the Republic is prohibited. We further discourage all non-essential domestic travel, particularly by air, rail, taxis, and buses.

Secondly, it is essential therefore that we minimize the risk of the spread of this virus by limiting contact amongst groups of people. While we appreciate the economic, religious, and cultural significance of social and community gatherings, the coronavirus is spread through contact between persons.

As we have said before, the current circumstances require extraordinary measures to curb the spread of infections. Therefore to encourage social distancing Cabinet has decided on these additional measures:

- Gatherings of more than 100 people will be prohibited.

- Mass celebrations of upcoming national days such as Human Rights Day and other large government events will be cancelled.

- Where small gatherings are unavoidable, organizers will need to put in place stringent measures of prevention and control.

- Schools will be closed from Wednesday, 18th March, and will remain closed until after the Easter Weekend.

- To compensate, the mid-year school holidays will be shortened by a week. Government is working closely with colleges, universities, and other public facilities such as Parliament, prisons, police stations, and military installations to intensify hygiene control and other measures.

- Visits to all correctional services [centers] are suspended for 30 days with immediate effect.

Government is aware of the confirmed case of a student who has tested positive for the coronavirus at the University of the Witwatersrand.

- Those who have been in contact with the student will be quarantined.

The Minister of Higher Education and Training and Innovation¹ is consulting with Vice Chancellors [of] universit[ies] as well as colleges across the country and will soon be announcing measures in this regard.

We call on all businesses, including mining, retail, banking, farming to ensure that they take all necessary measures to intensify hygiene control. We also call on the management of shopping malls, entertainment centers, and other places frequented by large numbers of people to bolster their hygiene control.

Thirdly, to further strengthen our health response, government is strengthening its surveillance and testing systems. We are in process of identifying isolation and quarantine sites in each district and metro. Capacity is being increased at designated hospitals in all provinces. We are also increasing the capacity of existing contact tracing processes.

We are partnering with the private sector to set up a national tracking, tracing, and monitoring system of all people infected with the coronavirus and those they have been in contact with. We are undertaking a mass communication campaign on good hygiene and effective prevention behavior.

Therefore, we are calling on everyone to change their behavior. We'd like the people of our country to: Wash their hands frequently with soap and water or hand sanitizers for at least 20 seconds. We'd like our people to cover their nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with a tissue or with a flexed elbow. Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.

We're calling for a change of behavior amongst all of us. We must minimize physical contact with other people, and encourage the elbow greeting rather, which is this [demonstrates elbow greeting], rather than shaking hands. Because of the severity of this virus and its rapid spreading, government will make funding available to capacitate the sectors dealing with the national response to this virus outbreak.

Since the outbreak of this pandemic, our government's response has been led by the Inter-Ministerial Committee, chaired by Minister of Health, Dr. Zweli Mkhize. We congratulate them on the outstanding work they have done -- together with their able support teams. They've been able to steer our country through this challenging and uncertain period.

As part of the intensification of this effort, we have decided to establish a National Command Council, which will be chaired by the President. This National Command Council will include, amongst others, members of the Inter-Ministerial Committee and will meet three times a week to coordinate all aspects of our extraordinary emergency response.

My fellow South Africans,

In addition to the impact that this pandemic will have on [the] health and well-being of our people, and the impact it will have on the day-to-day life of our society, this coronavirus called COVID-19 will also have a significant and potentially lasting impact on our economy.

In the last few weeks, we have seen a dramatic decline in economic activity in our major trading partners, a sudden drop in international tourism, and severe instability across all global markets. The anticipated effects of the decline in exports and tourist arrivals will be exacerbated by both an increase in infections and the measures we are required to take to contain the spread of the disease. This will have a potentially severe impact on production, the viability of a number of businesses, job retention, and job creation.

Cabinet is therefore in the process of finalizing a comprehensive package of interventions to mitigate the expected impact of COVID-19 on our economy. This package will consist of various fiscal and other measures, and it will be concluded following consultation with business, labor and other relevant institutions. It is clear that this disease will be extremely disruptive. Our priority must be to safeguard the health and the well-being of all South Africans, to minimize the number of infections, and to ensure all those infected get proper treatment.

While we are battling a contagious virus, perhaps the greatest dangers to our country at this time are fear and ignorance. We must appreciate the extent of the threat that this disease presents. We must accept the anxiety that it causes amongst our people, but we cannot allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by fear and panic.

We should stop spreading fake and unverified news and [not] create further apprehension and alarm amongst South Africans.

While we are facing a medical emergency far graver than we have experienced in recent times, we are not helpless. We have the knowledge. We have the expertise amongst us. We have the means and the resources to fight this disease. We also have partners, as in various institutions, various countries. We also have the World Health Organization working with us continuously. If we act swiftly, with purpose and collectively we can limit the effects of the coronavirus on our people and on our country.

Although we may be limiting physical contact and interfering with the rights of people, this epidemic has the potential to bring us closer together. We are responding as a united nation to a common threat. This national emergency demands that we cooperate, that we collaborate, and that we take common action. More than that, it requires solidarity, understanding and compassion.

Those who have resources, those who are healthy, need to assist those who are in need and who are also vulnerable. All the institutions of the state will be mobilized to lead this effort, but, if we are to succeed, every company, every trade union, every non-governmental organization, university, college, school, religious group, taxi association, funeral association, [unclear at 19:38] -- all of us will need to play our part.

We thank those people who suspected that they may have been exposed to the virus for coming forward to be tested and for taking measures -- such as self-isolation -- to prevent further transmission to others.

We thank the medical teams around the country who are leading our response and are putting the well-being of others ahead of the risks that they themselves could face.

On Saturday we welcomed 104 of [our] compatriots who were in Wuhan City, in China. We thank the repatriation team for the task they performed with pride and efficiency to return them to the country and ultimately, finally to their families. The repatriation has been successful and those who have returned have settled in the quarantine area.

We thank the military health officials, the pilots who flew the plane, the cabin crew, and all those who participated in this very testing exercise.

We thank the leadership and the people of Polokwane and Limpopo as a whole for warmly welcoming our fellow South Africans.

We also extend our gratitude to the staff and the management of the Ranch Hotel in Polokwane who have accommodated our compatriots and have also subjected themselves to quarantine.

We extend our appreciation to the companies and organizations and individuals who have taken it upon themselves to disseminate information about this virus and to raise awareness.

We also thank those businesses that have taken steps to protect their employees, and those unions that have taken steps to protect their members.

Ministers who are at the frontline of coordinating our response to this crisis will be briefing the media and the nation tomorrow, where they will unpack details in relation to the measures that we are announced tonight.

Fellow South Africans,

This is the most definitive Thuma Mina² moment for our country. I have great trust that our people will respond positively to this call for common action.

This epidemic will pass. But it is up to us to determine how long it will last, how damaging it will be, and how long it will take our economy and our country to recover.

It is true that we are facing a grave emergency. But if we act together, if we act now, and if we act decisively, I am sure we will overcome it.

We have never been defeated by any thing, event -- when we are united. United we are strong and divided we are weak, and can be defeated.

I wish to thank you, and I hope we take on this task with the strength and the courage that we have as South Africans.

Thank you and good night.

¹ There is no South African Ministry of Higher Education and Training and Innovation, per se. There is a Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, a Department of Science and Innovation, and a Department of Higher Education and Training, respectively

² Allusion to Hugh Masekela's song of the same title (English trans. "Send Me") covering themes of spiritual hope, patriotic obligation, and personal self-sacrifice. The song, which was also invoked by Ramaphosa during his presidential inaugural address to South Africa's parliament, draws lyrical inspiration from Isaiah 6:8: "And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.'" [Source and further interpretation at: https://allafrica.com/stories/201802210001.html]

Original Text Source: gov.za

Page Updated: 4/1/20

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